"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
2 Corinthians 9:7-8
Funding the Church and School
Tithing, offerings, and fees currently provide the bulk of funding for our church and school. However, non-cash gifts and bequests are becoming much more important. For many churches to survive financially, they will need to expand their concept of stewardship. This includes in-kind gifts and estate planning, especially. For additional information, please contact treasurer@stpaulniceville.com.
Offering Envelopes
Offering booklets are printed each year for church members and can be picked up at the church in December. Envelopes from the booklet can be placed within the offering plate during Sunday morning services, dropped by the church office, or mailed. If mailing, a stamp will be required. Printed on the envelopes is a special "envelope number" that is used to uniquely identify the contributor.
Electronic Funds Transfer
Please contact the Finance Director if you would prefer to use an electronic fund transfer.
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Bill Payer Services
Your bank may provide free bill payer services where you can go online and configure payments to be sent through the mail to a business on a one time or recurring basis. You can use the information below to setup automatic mail payments of your contributions.
- Business Name: Saint Paul Lutheran Church Inc.
- Business Address: 1407 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville, Florida 32578-2976
- Business Phone: (850) 678-1298
- Payee Account Number: [Use your envelope number from your offering booklet. If not known, contact the office]
Electronic Giving through Vanco
Church members may make electronic donations from their bank accounts via the Vance mobile application. To get started, download the Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement app via the Apple App Store for an iPhone or from Google Play for an Android phone. To begin giving please follow these steps:
1. Search for St. Paul Lutheran Church
2. Select your gift amount, fund, and frequency.
3. Enter your payment method.
4. Choose whether you want to cover processing fees.
5. Click Submit!
Amazon Smile
Amazon Smile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on Amazon Smile, 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products will be donated to your selected charitable organization.
For browsers, navigate to https://smile.amazon.com . For Android phones, there is an app available from the Google Play Store. For iPhones, open the site in Safari and then share it to your home screen. Please use the Amazon Smile website for your Amazon shopping. You can select our church as your charitable organization by searching on "St. Paul Niceville".
In-Kind Gifts
In-kind gifts, as opposed to in-cash gifts, include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, vehicles, jewelry, valuable artwork, and such. Giving these types of gifts can save you the effort of liquidation as well as the tax bill for any appreciation in value. Giving highly appreciated assets in-kind can result in substantial tax savings to you and a higher net contribution to the church given that the church does not pay income taxes.
Retirement Funding
Retirement funding has changed. In days past, many companies would provide their employees with pensions. Now, most companies provide employees the ability to contribute to their own 401Ks or IRAs, with some providing a company match. This is resulting in a large accumulation of wealth and much of it is going to be passed on to heirs. It is estimated that within the United States up to sixty-eight trillion dollars in wealth will be passed on to the next generation over the next twenty-five years.
Leave a Legacy
Through the process of estate planning, members of the church may provide for the church in a way that does not harm their ability to fund their retirements. Out-living your retirement funding is not a pleasant prospect. Below are some of the ways you may create your personal legacy within the church.
- Within your will or trust, specify a fixed dollar amount, percentage of your estate, or specific
assets such as stocks, jewelry, vehicles, or real estate for the church.
- Name the church as a partial or contingent beneficiary within a life insurance policy or annuity
contract.
- Name the church as a partial or contingent beneficiary using a "transfer on death" designation for
a 401K, IRA, Roth IRA, or brokerage account.
- Name the church as a partial or contingent beneficiary using a "payable on death" designation
for bank accounts such as checking, savings, and money market accounts, and also for savings
bonds and certificates of deposit.
Wills and Trusts
Unrestricted Bequest Example: I give the sum of $__________ (or _____% of my estate) to the Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Inc., whose tax identification number is 59-1962181, and having its principal office at 1407 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville, Florida 32578, to be used for its general purposes.
Restricted Bequest Example: I give the sum of $__________ (or _____% of my estate) to the Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Inc., whose tax identification number is 59-1962181, and having its principal office at 1407 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville, Florida 32578, for the following purpose: ____________________________________________ (state specific purpose). In the event that such use becomes impractical or impossible, the gift shall be used for such purpose as the church shall, at its discretion, determine.
Tax Advantaged Giving
IRAs can be used for charitable contributions without having to pay income tax on the associated distribution. This is called a "qualified charitable distribution" and counts toward the annual required minimum distribution but does not count as taxable income. It can result in a higher net contribution for the church, reduced taxes for the giver, or both.
Another example of taxed advantaged giving is designating the church a partial or contingent beneficiary of an IRA or 401K. For example, you could designate the church as a ten percent beneficiary. Upon your passing, ten percent of the value of your retirement account would pass to the church. The church could then use those funds without having to pay income taxes. This would maximize the contribution to the church and also could reduce your estate taxes.